This 83-Year-Old Legend Battles Dementia Beside Her Husband, Who Is Over Two Decades Younger – Their Love Story
More than a year ago, the veteran star’s fourth spouse broke the news of her illness. He has talked about the emotional toll of seeing her gradually deteriorate ever since. The experience of witnessing the lady he loves go through this has been “painful.”
In order to provide her with round-the-clock care while she deals with the difficulties of dementia, the soap opera icon’s husband, Scott Brand, gave up his job. He shared a picture of the well-liked English actress on social media not long ago, and it immediately sparked a range of reactions.
After they looked into the cause of his wife’s growing memory loss, Brand disclosed in June 2023 that she had been diagnosed with dementia. The couple’s fears were validated by doctors: there would be no going back.
Brand said, “My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heartbreaking diagnosis,” at the time. She had been struggling with forgetfulness for some time, he explained.
“We now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse,” Brand said.
According to Brand, his wife still likes to go out and see people she knows. However, because she was frequently recognized by the public, she occasionally experienced periods of disorientation, particularly when she was fatigued. In such circumstances, he hoped that people would be understanding.
The illness’s effects become more apparent over time. Brand provided yet another look at their everyday lives in an interview conducted in March 2024. He revealed that the vibrant, charming woman he had known was slowly disappearing.
“All of this is now slowly fading away and it’s extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration,” he stated. Now, his well-known wife finds it hard to identify individuals and has begun referring to everyone as “Scott.” She is angry.
Brand remembered that she had never left home without makeup and had always been very particular about how she looked. Her cosmetics and lipsticks were now undisturbed, and she had lost interest in clothes, particularly the leopard print that she had always loved.
She now utilizes a wheelchair as her mobility has become another difficulty. Brand thought about how their shared rituals had quietly disappeared. He recalled how much she loved to walk hand in hand, make romantic dinners, and organize holidays.
The time for those moments is over. He says he would never leave her side and that he no longer travels either. Brand began to notice the little things he used to take for granted, like drinking or watching football with friends, after taking on the role of full-time carer for her.
Everything had to be planned now, and he was frequently too exhausted to leave the house. He added that drinking alcohol was no longer an option because he had to be prepared to drive at all times in case something went wrong.
His routine and general well-being started to suffer as a result of these regular adjustments. “For me, the hardest part was accepting and coming to terms with the diagnosis,” Brand said.
Since they had always prized their solitude, he initially shunned outside assistance, thinking he could handle things on his own. But that strategy didn’t work. He quickly realized that he was unable to manage anything on his own. Being the sole caregiver, he felt that his health was deteriorating and that it was “killing” him.
Additionally, he had to assume duties that had never been assigned to him before. She had always been meticulous and careful with their money, but now she didn’t understand its worth.
All of a sudden, he had to handle everything at home, which was a role he was unfamiliar with. Brand advised people in such circumstances to seek assistance as soon as possible, stating that attempting to handle things on one’s own was not a sustainable approach.
Brand found solace in the Alzheimer’s Society’s help as the duties of daily care increased. He and his spouse supported the organization’s effort, referring to it as a “lifeline” since the diagnosis.
The “The Long Goodbye” commercial, which was narrated by Colin Firth, depicted the agonizing, continuous character of dementia. The rationale behind the campaign’s name, according to Brand, was the loss of small pleasures like going on impromptu trips, holding hands, dining out, or shopping together.
Julie Mann, a dementia adviser provided by the charity, also assisted Brand in easing her responsibilities. She helped him with long-term planning, financial documentation, and getting the proper treatment.
He explained that without this assistance, handling the situation would have been too much to handle, characterizing the support as continuous and vital.
Even though the Alzheimer’s Society provided support, happy moments had become infrequent. Brand posted a recent picture of his wife, 83-year-old soap actor Julie Goodyear, in April 2025. The image has since been removed, but Brand wrote, “Just got home with my lovely wife and we’ve had a fantastic day together.”
Goodyear, who was photographed for the first time since the diagnosis in 2023 at a charity walk, was seated and wearing a grey hoodie in the picture. She drew her long silver hair back from her face. Her complexion looked pale, and there were deep creases around her eyes and mouth. She had a few missing teeth, but she was smiling.
The image immediately caught people’s attention and generated a variety of internet reactions. Some fans were in favor of posting the picture, while others were against it.
Someone wrote, “I feel absolutely DISGUSTED that Julie Goodyear’s husband would release that photo of her.” Someone else said, “So very sad to see this photo, Julie was always so glamorous in Corrie let’s all remember her from those days [sic].”
Others supported Brand’s choice to post the image. “Julie Goodyear’s husband did nothing wrong!” was one comment. She is content and well-cared for. Should he keep her hidden since it makes strange people uncomfortable?
One user remarked, “My mum [sic] had dementia, I personally think the picture is lovely, she looks happy in her own little world and still has a lovely sparkle about her.” Others shared personal experiences. “Aww so sad, dementia is cruel,” said another.
A few months prior, in June 2024, Brand had posted a sincere ode to their bond. He shared a vintage picture from their special day on social media to commemorate their wedding anniversary, writing, “17 years today me and my beautiful wife tied the knot and every day is still special.”
In 1996, Goodyear met Brand when he brought plaster to a house she was remodeling. Later, in 2007, they were married in a secret ceremony. He is over two decades her junior.
The English actress once said that Brand knew how to treat her nicely and that they both had a lighthearted sense of humor. She added that he frequently acknowledged that he was unable to keep up with her speed, making jokes about how she exhausted him. Goodyear’s romantic past had been tumultuous prior to meeting Brand.
She has three previous marriages. After becoming pregnant at the age of 17, she married Ray Sutcliffe for the first time in 1959. In 1963, the emotionally distant partnership came to an end. Sutcliffe left the nation for Australia after the birth of their son, Gary Goodyear, and never came back, severing all ties to the family.
More misery resulted from Goodyear’s subsequent marriage attempt. Her second marriage, to Tony Rudman, ended nearly instantly and lasted from 1973 to 1974. In “Just Julie,” her memoirs, she detailed how his actions changed immediately following their vows.
He took hold of her arm as they left the church and dragged her away from the revelers while whispering, “Just get in the [expletive] car.” Rudman left Goodyear to deal with the visitors alone after leaving the reception and never coming back. She acknowledged that the marriage ultimately cost her a lot, particularly financially, but she did not specify the cause of his abrupt transformation.
Goodyear’s third marriage was a completely different experience after her second one ended. Richard Skrob, a wealthy American widower who had been fighting leukemia, was the man she married in 1985. They became close quite quickly, and she accepted his proposal.
But from the beginning, their marriage took a strange turn. Instead of being at her side on their wedding night, Skrob decided to go sailing. Additionally, he did not return to Britain with her as planned. The relationship had ended by 1987.
Although she experienced setbacks in her personal life, Goodyear too had difficulties in its early years. The TV personality was devastated when her initial stint on “Coronation Street” in 1966 ended after only six weeks.
She went back to typing and strange TV roles. She even once arrived in Granada in a concrete mixer, which prompted Pat Phoenix to make a scathing comment. She advised Goodyear to train at Oldham Rep, and the two eventually became friends. Determined to leave a lasting impression on Bet Lynch, she returned to the show four years later on a six-month contract.
Goodyear’s journey has been anything but typical, ranging from early heartbreaks to public adulation and personal hardships.
Goodyear’s journey has been anything but typical, ranging from early heartbreaks to public adulation and personal hardships.